Episodes

  • Jocelyn King’s Cyber Security Horror Story and How to Vanquish the Nightmare

    Jocelyn King’s Cyber Security Horror Story and How to Vanquish the Nightmare
    Jun 26 2025
    Host Laura Reid welcomes the Queen of Online Safety, Jocelyn King, to the show to talk about the terror of cybercrime and how to stay safe against hacks. Jocelyn was a victim of cybercrime herself and now she is named one of the top ten women in cybersecurity and is the Founder and CEO of Smarter Online Safety. Jocelyn shares the real-life horror story of the sanity-destroying cybercrime she was a victim of, how she rallied and became a cyber security expert, the power of neural sculpting, and surviving nightmare speech failures along the way.What Jocelyn King learned about cybersecurity and what she now shares online was not available when she herself was a victim of cybercrime. As Laura says, Jocelyn needed her present self back then. The scary reality of being hacked and losing not just financial security and online privacy, but home security and physical safety is harrowing. But Jocelyn explains how it drove her to create the resources she needed and didn’t have. Being a podcast host, speaker, and former singer, Jocelyn also has a lot of public speaking experiences to discuss and not all of them went smoothly. Join Laura as she learns how to stay safe online, what neural sculpting is, and why Jocelyn says to smile and breathe when something goes wrong onstage. About Jocelyn King:Jocelyn King is the CEO and Founder of Smarter Online Safety, dedicated to empowering and equipping individuals and organizations with the knowledge to protect themselves in today’s evolving AI-driven cybercrime world. A renowned safety expert and educator, she has been recognized as a “Top 10 Woman in Cybersecurity” and is a sought-after keynote speaker and the podcast host of Smarter Online Safety. Her expertise has been featured on Dr. Phil’s prime-time news, morning shows, and international radio and podcasts.As the creator of the Better Online Safety Simplified (BOSS) System, Jocelyn makes online protection as intuitive and simple as locking your doors and windows. What sets her apart? She isn’t just a cybersecurity expert—she’s a cybercrime survivor. After enduring a long-term, devastating hacker attack, she collaborated with top security professionals to master hacker tactics and protection strategies. Now, she uses her hard-earned expertise to help others stay safer and saner online.Jocelyn holds a B.S. from the University of San Francisco and an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California.__Contact Jocelyn King:Website: SmarterOnlineSafety.comPodcast: Smarter Online Safety with Jocelyn KingLinkedInContact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer: Website: TheSpeechSlayer.com Facebook: TheSpeechSlayer Instagram: @Laura_InWonderland Linkedin: Laura Reid Book: “The Public Speaking Horror Show: 7 Secrets to Kill It as a Speaker” by Laura Reid —TranscriptLaura Reid: [00:00:02] All right, speech slayers. Welcome to another episode of the Public Speaking Horror Show. And get ready because today's guest knows all about real life horror. But we're not talking about ghosts and ghouls. We're talking about something even scarier: cybercrime and neuro sculpting. Ouch. Today's guest is better known as the Queen of Online Safety. She is the founder and CEO of Smarter Online Safety, where she empowers everyone from CEOs to celebrities, parents to entrepreneurs on how to protect themselves in the digital age. From hackers and AI deep fakes to the latest scams, she helps people stay safe, sane and informed in an online world that's, let's face it, getting creepier by the day. But here's where things get terrifying. She wasn't always a cybersecurity expert. In fact, she was once a victim of cyber crime herself. And not just a little hack, but a life shattering attack that devastated her finances, her career, health and even marriage. That experience forced her to fight back. And now she's not just a survivor, she was named a top ten woman in cybersecurity and has dedicated herself to helping others stay protected before it's too late. So if you've ever worried about getting hacked, scammed, or even digitally impersonated, this episode is for you. Buckle up because we're diving into the real horror stories of the internet, and trust me, you'll want to hear what she has to say before you click on that next suspicious link. Let's slay the cyber monsters and learn how our brains can help us slay our nerves too on stage, there's a lot to unpack. Welcome to The Public Speaking Horror Show Jocelyn King. Jocelyn King: [00:01:57] Oh, thank you so much, Laura. So great to be here with you and everybody. And you're not only a speech slayer, you are a podcast introduction slayer. That was amazing. Laura Reid: [00:02:06] Oh. Thank you. Thank you so much. So we're going to get started with what I'm calling the killer 13. These are 13 rapid fire, quirky, sometimes spooky, random questions. Are you ready to play? Jocelyn King: [00:02:23] No, of course not. But sure. Laura Reid: [00:02:27] That's the correct answer. ...
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    50 mins
  • Life is About Storytelling and When Anxiety Attacks with Monique Bradley

    Life is About Storytelling and When Anxiety Attacks with Monique Bradley
    Jun 26 2025
    Host Laura Reid welcomes Monique Bradley, keynote speaker and former TV shopping host, to the show to talk about her storied life. From being bullied in childhood through acting, magic, and live TV, Monique has made public speaking her entire life journey. Laura finds out how Monique would sell an item spontaneously, what scares (or more accurately doesn’t scare) her, and why we need to reserve judgement about people when things go awry. Monique shares the highs and lows of a life in public speaking.Monique Bradley survives Laura Reid’s Killer 13 rapid-fire questions with some impressive spontaneity and revelatory insights. She then shares her life story which is one of discovering herself and her true power of connecting with people through storytelling. At one point in life she says she became a magician “because you’ve got to keep earning money somehow”. Monique pulls speaking inspiration from her combined pakeha and Maori roots, talks about attending theatre school with Jemaine Clement, sings the praises of New Zealand, and divulges a public speaking horror story that ends in an important epiphany. About Monique Bradley:Monique spent my life studying and playing with words and stories, exploring their power and potential. Her training as an actor, speaker and singer began at the age of 8. As the youngest of 7 and born into a loud, theatrical, Radio and TV family, it was no surprise that she would end up either in leadership, sales, TV or the creative arts. In fact, she’s worked in all of them. She has a degree in theatre and film from Victoria University, a certificate in film and TV production from the TV training school previously attached to TVNZ in Wellington, qualifications with Trinity College of London and the NZ Speech Board and is a Board member of the Professional Speakers Association of NZ. Monique is also currently doing a Masters in Creative Practice at Unitec, exploring the impact of speaking and storytelling.Monique has been in multiple national and international films, TV commercials, MC'd and hosted numerous online and in real life events, worked as a voiceover artist for documentaries, commercials, animated films and games, recorded albums of music, worked as a TV shopping presenter, digital content creator and live streamer, educator, coach and even ran her own performing arts school. She has now clocked up more than 25 years of a creative career and the common thread running through it all is storytelling. Even working in retail and banking (of which she’s also done) was all about storytelling.__Contact Monique Bradley:Website: MoniqueBradley.tvInstagramLinkedInContact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer: Website: TheSpeechSlayer.comFacebook: TheSpeechSlayerInstagram: @Laura_InWonderlandLinkedin: Laura ReidBook: “The Public Speaking Horror Show: 7 Secrets to Kill It as a Speaker” by Laura Reid—TranscriptLaura Reid: [00:00:02] Welcome to The Public Speaking Horror Show, where we dive into the terrifying, cringeworthy, and downright bloodcurdling moments of public speaking. I am your host, Laura Reid. Our guest today is a master of persuasion, a high impact storyteller and if public speaking were a battle, she'd be wielding the one ring of influence. She spent over 25 years captivating audiences, from TV shopping to the keynote stage. But has she ever had a moment where things went completely off the rails? You're about to find out. Please welcome all the way from New Zealand, Monique Bradley. Welcome. Monique Bradley: [00:00:49] Thank you so much. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be on your podcast. Thank you so much for the invitation. It's an absolute honor and a privilege. Laura Reid: [00:00:59] Oh, it's such, such a thrill to have you here. Monique and I met in Oahu back in November, and I had the opportunity to be in the audience for her talk, and it was just hilarious. Meaningful. Impactful. Like, all the things. It was so, so good. And I planted a seed then, I've got to reach out to her to be on this podcast. So I'm so glad it worked out. Monique Bradley: [00:01:23] Yeah, so am I. This is such a buzz for me. Thank you. Laura Reid: [00:01:27] Oh, good. So we're going to start out with what I'm calling the killer 13. 13 rapid fire questions, just so our audience knows, she did not receive these in advance. So we're just putting you to the test here. Monique Bradley: [00:01:41] I'm on. Laura Reid: [00:01:42] Are you ready? Monique Bradley: [00:01:42] Let's do this. Laura Reid: [00:01:43] You're ready. Monique Bradley: [00:01:43] Let's do it. Laura Reid: [00:01:44] Okay. Number one. What's scarier? Forgetting your lines on stage or losing a live audience's attention. Monique Bradley: [00:01:52] Losing a live audience's attention. 100%. Laura Reid: [00:01:55] Yeah, Absolutely. Number two, would you rather sell a haunted doll or a cursed mirror on live TV? Monique Bradley: [00:02:04] A haunted doll. Laura Reid: [00:02:06] All...
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    47 mins
  • Pete Tingstrom on Forgetting to Thank the Important Person and Celebrating Life

    Pete Tingstrom on Forgetting to Thank the Important Person and Celebrating Life
    Jun 26 2025
    Host Laura Reid welcomes Army retiree and former Green Beret Pete Tingstrom to the show to talk about his scariest speech moment and current business, Aloha Oahu Weddings. Pete tells Laura about the frequent speeches he gives for military and veteran organizations and how a scary speech moment still caught up with him. He reveals profound thoughts on celebration and care, why he needs that speech outline, and re-thinks that opening hook with Laura.Pete Tingstrom has a wedding and event business called Aloha Oahu Weddings and it brings him great joy to share the beautiful location with people celebrating all manner of moments. Last October he organized a private cruise for a global gathering of Green Berets so they could all share some special moments together. In a pivotal speech to that gathering, Pete seemed to make eye contact with his wife while thanking someone else for their help. And then forgot to thank his wife. Laura and Pete discuss the horror of that moment, where to put thank yous in a speech to make sure they’re noted, and how to recover from a moment like that. About Pete Tingstrom:Pete is a 30-year Army retiree who served in the Infantry, Special Forces (Green Berets) and Aviation branches. Currently he owns a wedding and event venue in Kaneohe on the Island of Oahu with incredible ocean and mountain views. He has recently added a party bus and photo booth options for all events on his lush venue. Pete spends a lot of time leading and working with many non-profit veteran service benevolent organizations, and a global peace movement called Live and Let Live. __Contact Pete Tingstrom:Website: AlohaOahuWeddings.comInstagramFacebookYelpGoogleContact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer: Website: TheSpeechSlayer.comFacebook: TheSpeechSlayerInstagram: @Laura_InWonderlandLinkedin: Laura ReidBook: “The Public Speaking Horror Show: 7 Secrets to Kill It as a Speaker” by Laura Reid—TranscriptLaura Reid: [00:00:00] Welcome back to The Public Speaking Horror Show, the podcast where we dig up the scariest, most cringe-worthy, downright disastrous moments speakers have faced on the stage so you don't have to. If you've ever had a presentation and it felt like a slow motion car crash, you're in the right place. And if you haven't, oh, just wait. Your time will come. But before we dive in, make sure that you hit the like and subscribe button so you never miss an episode. Because the only thing scarier than public speaking is a podcast with no ratings. So today's guest is the incredible Pete Tingstrom. Pete has this amazing badass background, I'm not going to do it justice, but just know he's like jumped from airplanes on missions as a Green Beret. He's a 30 year Army retiree, served in the infantry, the aviation branches. So yeah, I want to hear a little bit about that from him. But today he owns a wedding and event venue on the beautiful island of Oahu. I have been on his boat, takes people out to the sandbar out there, it's just absolutely amazing. He is just living this beautiful life in paradise these days. And I think he earned it. So, but today before, we're not really here to, like, talk about just his wins. Oh no. Like, we are here to unearth his story and maybe some things that he kind of wished were kept buried. So, Pete, welcome to the show. Pete Tingstrom: [00:01:42] Thank you, Laura, for having me. This is quite an honor to be on your show. Laura Reid: [00:01:47] Thank you. So thrilled to have you. So before we dive in to the good, the bad and the oh, my God, did that just happen, let's break the ice with our killer 13. These are 13 rapid fire questions, Pete. Don't overthink it. Are you ready? Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:07] I'm ready. Laura Reid: [00:02:08] Okay. Number one, what's scarier? A silent audience or a heckler? Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:16] A silent audience. Laura Reid: [00:02:18] Yeah, I agree. You just jumped out of a plane. Your parachute doesn't open. What's your first thought? Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:26] This is going to be one hell of a ride. Laura Reid: [00:02:29] I love it. Hell of a landing, too. Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:32] Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that part. Laura Reid: [00:02:36] What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:40] Probably crickets. Laura Reid: [00:02:43] Crickets. I had crickets, too. In Zimbabwe, you fry them with some salt. Not too bad. Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:48] Good with chocolate covered too. Laura Reid: [00:02:49] Oh, good. Were they cooked and, like, covered in chocolate? Not just like a raw? Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:54] Yeah, they were cooked and covered in chocolate, but I've had them raw as well for survival. Laura Reid: [00:02:57] You have? Oh, I would think the ink could be a problem, but yeah. Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:02] No, they're not. I don't like it. Laura Reid: [00:03:05] Number four, would you rather get stuck in a haunted house overnight or give a surprise Ted talk with zero prep? Pete ...
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    32 mins
  • Audrey Alice’s Scariest 60 Seconds and Thriving After Divorce

    Audrey Alice’s Scariest 60 Seconds and Thriving After Divorce
    Jun 26 2025
    Host Laura Reid welcomes Divorce Coach and Yoga Instructor Audrey Alice to the show to talk about her scariest speeches and how she slayed her fear. After surviving Laura’s Killer 13 opening questions, Audrey shares her story of divorce, the speech that made her cry in the car, and how she learned to push through her fear. Laura and Audrey shine a light into the dark and explore Audrey’s new purpose in life and her current enjoyment of public speaking.Audrey’s divorce and the challenges she faced after that significant change in her life brought her to a place where she needed to confront public speaking in order to promote her new business. She describes being so frightened she was shaking and crying in her car, too afraid to go in and face the 50 people she needed to address for 60 seconds. She did the 60-second talk anyway and lived to tell. Laura lets us peek behind the curtain of Audrey’s life to see how she became comfortable with public speaking and why it’s so important to her that her message of hope after divorce reaches as many people as possible.About Audrey Alice:Audrey Alice is a happily divorced mama of 3 sons. Going through her own divorce when her boys were 5, 8, and 11 made her realize that there wasn’t much out there in terms of support or information on how to navigate the next chapter, especially with young kids. And being the first in her friendship circle to get a divorce, she didn’t know many people who could relate to her story.Because Audrey made mistakes and learned the hard way, she decided that no woman (or man!) would have to take the long road to healing, so she became a Divorce Coach to help others through divorce with grace.When she graduated high school, Audrey wanted to study to become an international translator for organizations like NATO but her father convinced her that hospitality would be a wiser choice. She ended up working in deluxe 5-star hotels for 20 years before becoming a full-time mum when her second child was born.After her divorce, Audrey originally trained as a Nutrition Coach but pivoted after a year to Divorce Coach. She is also a yoga instructor and reiki practitioner and has lived on 3 continents, in 8 countries and speaks 4 languages. __Resources mentioned in this episode:Ann VoskampKona Stories bookstore__Contact Audrey Alice:Website: IAmAudreyAlice.comInstagram: @IAmAudreyAliceDivorced AF podcastContact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer: Website: TheSpeechSlayer.comFacebook: TheSpeechSlayerInstagram: @Laura_InWonderlandLinkedin: Laura Reid—TranscriptLaura Reid: [00:00:00] Welcome to The Public Speaking Horror Show. I'm your host, Laura Reid, and I'm here to guide you through the spine-tingling, sweat-inducing, and occasionally hilarious world of public speaking. This is the show where we confront the terrifying moments that haunt speakers because, let's face it, we've all had them. But we also discover the lessons that they teach us. So grab your flashlight and your sense of humor because we're diving into the shadows of the stage. Remember, every speaking horror story has a silver lining if you dare to find it. Let's meet today's guest. Audrey Alice is a happily divorced mom of three who has spent her post-divorce years helping other divorced mothers go from surviving to absolutely thriving. She went through all the struggles so you don't have to and helps women see that divorce is not the end of their lives, but the beginning of the rest of their lives. When she isn't coaching badass women, she's also a yoga teacher and a Reiki practitioner and loves to spend time with her sons on the beach. Oh, and she recently added public speaker to her job titles. So welcome, Audrey. Audrey Alice: [00:01:27] Woo hoo! Thank you for having me. Laura Reid: [00:01:29] Thank you. So before we dive into Audrey's story, it's time for The Killer 13. This is where, Audrey, I hit you with 13 rapid fire questions designed to test your reflexes, uncover your quirks, and maybe even give you a fright. But don't overthink it. Just say what comes to mind, right. The Killer 13, let's go. All right. Number one. What were you most afraid of as a child? Audrey Alice: [00:02:03] The dark. Laura Reid: [00:02:04] The dark. What was the last song you danced to in your kitchen? Because I know you do. Audrey Alice: [00:02:11] Oh, right before this call. Espresso. Sabrina Carpenter. Laura Reid: [00:02:15] Love it. So good. You just got asked to speak, and you're jumping for joy. Who are you speaking to? And where is it? Audrey Alice: [00:02:26] Oh, it's my TEDx talk, darling. Laura Reid: [00:02:29] Yes, absolutely, I love it. I can't wait to see you on that stage. Yes. All right, number four, what's your go-to mantra that brings you confidence? Audrey Alice: [00:02:39] Oh my goodness. I have so many. Right now, cross that bridge when you get to it. Laura Reid: [00:02:47] I love that. Cross that bridge when you get to it. Audrey Alice: [00:02:49] I tend to ...
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    37 mins
  • Trailer: The Public Speaking Horror Show

    Trailer: The Public Speaking Horror Show
    Oct 31 2024

    Laura Reid, known as The Speech Slayer, is here to take the terror out of public speaking! Author of The Public Speaking Horror Show: 7 Secrets to Kill It as a Speaker, stand-up comic, keynote speaker, and public speaking coach, Laura brings her one-of-a-kind approach to her new podcast, The Public Speaking Horror Show.


    In each episode, she sits down with brilliant experts and accomplished speakers to share their nightmare experiences, terrifying presentations, and killer insights, all for your benefit. If you’re ready to become the final boss of public speaking and conquer stage fright, join Laura on The Public Speaking Horror Show. She’ll guide you through the hilarious, haunting, and hard-won lessons of addressing a crowd—and owning it.


    About Laura Reid:

    Having grown up with a stutter, social anxiety, and paralyzing fear of public speaking, Laura Reid, M.Ed., is an unlikely international keynote speaker, public speaking coach, and stand-up comic. But that’s what makes her uniquely aligned to help others break through public speaking fear and leave audiences spellbound.

    Laura has received numerous awards for her speeches and presentations and won several storytelling competitions. She has a penchant for haiku and horror movies. Laura lives somewhere over the rainbow on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she relishes solitude and fends off wild pigs for excitement.


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    Contact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer:

    • Website: TheSpeechSlayer.com
    • Facebook: TheSpeechSlayer
    • Instagram: @Laura_InWonderland
    • Linkedin: Laura Reid


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    Transcript


    Laura Reid: [00:00:02] Hey there, I'm Laura Reid. Welcome to The Public Speaking Horror Show. This is a podcast where we unearth the terrifying, sometimes hilarious, often cringe-worthy moments from the stage. So fun. In each episode, I'll be chatting with super smart experts and accomplished speakers who share their public speaking horror stories. So their pain is our pleasure and learning. Whether you've had a nightmare speech that still haunts you, or you just want to own the room like a boss, you're in the right place. So make sure you subscribe because you don't want to miss a single episode of The Public Speaking Horror Show. See you there... if you dare.
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    1 min